Our recommendation in the 18th Congressional District race

Oct. 29, 2008

Nita Lowey

Jim Russell, the Republican challenger to Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey in the 18th Congressional District, is right about one thing: More congressional oversight of the nation's financial system is needed. Outside of earnestness in his positions, though, there is little to recommend Russell's election over that of Lowey, who has a commendable record on social, education and health legislation in Congress.

She makes no apologies about the amount of money she has brought home to the district from Washington, including millions of dollars for emergency responders, after-school programs, infrastructure projects, the environment and other local initiatives. "I'm proud of every earmark I've brought home'' Lowey said at an Editorial Board meeting with Russell.

We endorse Lowey, one of the highest-ranking members in Congress, for another two-year term. Voters go to the polls Nov. 4. Lowey, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee, also has the Working Families party line. She lives in Rye.

Russell, a computer consultant from Hawthorne, is running for Congress for the third time. To his credit, he has broadened his platform, which in previous years focused exclusively on illegal immigration; he is a founder of Westchester-Rockland Citizens for Immigration Control. Russell does not support the divvying up of earmarks, saying they should be cut to reduce government spending, along with such federal monies allocated to, for example, Blythdale Children's Hospital and Solomon Schechter School of Westchester.

Lowey's record repudiates such thinking. Over her many years of service, Lowey has delivered on pocketbook issues for district voters, including the neediest. New York, which is in a mess financially, will need a strong voice in Washington as it attempts to dig out from a deep financial hole. Now is not the time to part ways with this incumbent.